Following Jin's shadow, Silvia's heavy feet moved to the altar. Each step she took ascending the stairs felt intense labor as her breath ragged.
The lingering guilt and deprecation stuck in her mind like a parasite, gnawing at her weary consciousness about their situation.
She never thought that the act of receiving something from a stranger would swallow her and plunge her into the forsaken land, filled with intense blizzards and involving another person.
This was her mistake for believing others so willingly.
"Silvia?".
Jin's voice snapped her from her daze as she noticed that her feet had stopped climbing.
"Yeah? I'm coming".
Silvia shook her head, dismissing the disturbing thought that corroded her mind into thinking negatively. Thanks to that, she regained a bit of clarity and walked toward the sword on the altar.
Her now bright expression stared at the sword. Its blue radiance and silver gleam seeped into her heart, stirring something invisible within her.
A loud thumping from her heart rang in her ears. Silvia gulped her saliva and reached out to her chest. Her eyes focused on the tiny blue jewel embedded in the sword guard.
Silvia's eyes blinked as she saw it gently flicker. Her vision distorted before she eventually found herself submerged in the depths of the ocean, embraced by the massive body of water that seemed endless, pulling her down toward the bottom.
'This!?'. Tiny bubbles spewed from her mouth, but Silvia did not feel out of breath. In fact, her mind sharpened upon looking at a looming shadow slowly creeping out from the bottom, trying to swallow her whole.
"Silvia? Hey Silvia!".
"Ah!?". Light returned to her vacant eyes, feeling the shaking and outburst of an impatient voice from Jin.
"Are you alright? Are you still tired?".
Jin's voice was loud, shaking her eardrums, yet strangely, it gently coiled around her, providing a sense of security.
"I'm fine, just thinking about something".
"Are you sure?".
Her lips parted into a gentle smile, seeing the boys exhaled in relief. Silvia nodded and directed her gaze toward the sword on the altar.
Another thump came from her pounding heart. Its gentle tune swallowed every sound that perked her ears as her consciousness slowly drifted into a daze.
Before her, the sword faintly humming as if calling her mind to hurry up and pull it away from the altar.
"Silvia?".
Ignoring Jin's bewildered voice, Silvia reached out her right hand. Her steps were light, and she stood before the altar and curled her finger around the sword hilt.
The cold hilt stung her skin. Once she tightened her grip, the sword vibrated, and the entire place vibrated as if welcoming its master.
"What the!? Silvia, are you alright? Answer me, Silvia?".
Jin's voice sank into the abyss as Silvia's vision blurred, and a strong suction from the sword jolted her body, clamping her hand tight. Dread washed over the blood on her face as she grits her teeth, 'No, if this continues, I will'.
The suction lessened, and Silvia's tense muscle loosened in a warm comfort. Her ears twitched upon hearing a calm female voice that felt ancient welcome her.
{So, you are my new XXXXX}
Silvia stumbled in her poised posture and leaned back unconsciously. She pulled the sword on the altar, followed by a snapping chain that released it.
"Silvia?".
A gentle embrace wrapped her from behind, enveloping her exhausted mind with a soothed voice.
"Ha, ha." Her breath turned laboured, and cold sweat drenched her body, letting her gown stick to her skin.
"Jin, I," her pained voice prompted the boy to snuggle her to his chest swiftly.
"What? Stay with me, Silvia — you are going to be alright. Damn, I should be the one who takes it first".
Jin's knitting face etched deep in her sight and formed a blissful smile for knowing there was someone who was caring for her in every situation. Her expression tightened and cast her look upward toward Jin.
"Jin". Silvia reached out and gripped Jin's suit, and weakly pulled him closer.
"What?"Jin let his body be pulled as he felt her hot breath caressing his ears.
A loud growl echoed in the vast room. He gently released herself from her grip and turned to see her face dyed pink.
The boy tilted his head and caught Silvia's curled lips with eyes down, unable to look him in the eye.
"Let's eat something first before exploring, okay?". Jin parted his lips and took out a sandwich.
"Um". Silvia nodded, still embarrassed to make contact with Jin.
***
After having a good meal, Jin and Silvia's hands interlocked each other and explored the path from another corner.
It was dim and stifled, with a palpable eerie mood. However, both youngsters prevailed and walked toward the deepest unknown, with only the faintest light shining in the farthest way as a guide.
"Jin, thank you for the outfit".
"No, don't mention it. Are you feeling uncomfortable about the size?".
"Not really".
"Good then".
Silvia was currently wearing Jin's adventuring outfit, with a vest to protect her torso. Luckily, he had a pair, so he also changed into one and readied his Katana on the waist.
They proceed forward, both of them shrouded in heavy tension. Each step they took bounced across the walls in echo, sharpening his edge.
As the light got nearer, its golden radiance bathed the two of them in the baffled spectacles, seeing a mountain of gold sprawled across the vast room, coupled with a bountiful jewel glittering around, reflecting the faint light above.
"Is that gold?". Jin's voice cracked. His eyes widened in agape.
Silvia was also the same. Her loosened mouth was unfit for her graceful appearance, but the event that transpired before them was too ephemeral to ignore.
"So much treasure". Silvia's voice stammered, and her eyes flickered for a second as old memories from a book resurfaced, 'Wait!? Mountain of treasure inside a cave. It used to be linked to…'.
"Silvia, look! There is a garden of flowers over there".
Jin pulled her hand closer and pointed his finger toward the corner left.
"That was!? Moonlight Lily".
The flower mentioned stood quietly beneath the light cascading from above. Its white petals glow with a gentle sheen. It was surrounded by a rock formation and swaying grass that stood still, enduring the harsh environment it was in.
"It's beautiful". Silvia's murmurs escaped her lips while her body was pulled toward the mountain gold, following Jin's will.
Jin stood before the mountain, licked his lips, and reached his hand forward before reciting the skill 'Item Box' in his heart as it slowly swallowed everything that presented itself in front of him.
"Jin, what are you?".
"It's a shame to leave this much treasure lying around".
"Yeah, but are you aware that…".
"Shall we take the flower? You seemed enraptured with it?".
Jin abruptly cut off Silvia's argument and went toward the garden, with Silvia following behind with brows knitted together in a deep frown.
"I think that's all of them". Jin's eyes scanned his surrounding
"Listen, Jin!"
A gust of violent wind blasted the entire vicinity where both stood. The oppressive atmosphere descended upon the room, suffocating Jin and Silvia as they heard a clapping sound from the colossal hole above.
Each clap sends blizzards with its cold temperature stunning both their skins, making them shiver in fright.
*Ggrrrhh
Jin and Silvia's faces tightened, hearing that deep, threatening growl echo inside the place.
It happened in an instant. With a loud 'boom,' the cave trembled, and the figure of an ancient beast revealed itself.
He lowered his crossed hands, which covered his face, and, with quivering lips, spoke, "T-That was!? "
"D-Dragon".
The dragon's yellowish eyes shrank, noticing two humans had stepped foot in its lair. Its chest bloated before a thundering roar shook the entire mountain.
'Damn, this is a disaster'. Jin swallowed his regret and hardened his resolve to face the impossible.
***
Inside the meeting room in one of the castle rooms, The King, Viscount Ryan, and Duke Sullivan sat with dark circles on their faces and bloodshot eyes, waiting for the news Lucya had sought.
The door in the room blasted open, jolting the men inside.
Lucya, with bated breath, held the necklace in her hands and walked inside before slamming her palm on the wooden table in the middle.
"I know where they transferred to," she said, gulping her saliva to moisten her parched throat after running through the streets of town.
With sweat trickling down her temple, she glanced at Lord Midnight and Duke Sullivan before saying, "Those two were thrown to the North Continent".
After hearing the news, both involved fathers knitted their brows in deep frowns. Their teeth gritted in frustration, and blood spilled from their clenching fists.
The King, who could only see them wallowing in deep frustration, coughed to dispel the tense atmosphere that shrouded the room. "So, anything else we need to know?"
Lucya's breath halted under the pressure of their gaze. She inhaled deeply and nodded her head before continuing.
"Granny would gladly help us create a massive transportation portal and deliver a rescue team there, but we must have an airship and crew who dare to explore the Snow Land."
"I see, how about it, Sullivan, Ryan?". The King shifted toward the two, and looking toward their determined eyes, both nodded.
"Let me go there as a rescue team; my experience as an Adventurer might be helpful." Ryan loosened the tension in his body a bit and looked toward Duke Sullivan.
"Understood, I will ask you this, brother, please help me this once!? ".
Lucya and Lord Midnight flinched, seeing Duke Sullivan lowered his head in a deep bow before the King.
"What gibberish are you saying? Stand up, Sullivan! I am willing to help you in the first place. You can use our airship as you wish, and I will leave the commando to our trusted knights. Can you support them, Adventurer Ryan?"
"Yes". Ryan straightened up and bowed his head.
As the conversation proceeded swiftly, Lucya's blue eyes darted toward the surrounding area before she lifted her hand and quietly murmured, "Can I also come?"